The Government of India’s 2008 National Action Plan on Climate Change demonstrates concern
about India’s vulnerability, given that its “economy [is] closely tied to its natural resource base
and climate-sensitive sectors”. (Government of India 2008: 1) Still, it recognizes that “India has a
wider spectrum of choice precisely because it is at an early stage of development,” thus
highlighting both the possibilities of technology leap-frogging and the perils of lock-in. India
believes that equity in mitigation implies equal per capita shares of the global atmospheric
commons. Hence, “India is determined that its per capita greenhouse gas emissions will at no
point exceed that of developed countries.” (2) This stance is consistent in principle with global
convergence of emissions levels at ca. 2t CO2e p.c., as is required in order to avoid warming in
excess of 2˚C. Implementing it effectively would likely have to imply India remaining
significantly below developing country emissions to avoid overshooting.
India’s Action Plan articulates a detailed and ambitious R&D agenda for green technologies.
Energy efficiency projects in industry and buildings offer major mitigation potential, with
projected sectoral emissions reductions by 2030 of 16% and 30-40% below BAU, respectively.
(19, 23) The Action Plan reports on steps toward implementing these measures, including
mandatory emissions audits in some industries, and a voluntary building efficiency code. It
discusses options for ambitious future policies, including carbon taxes as well as emission
intensity targets for large enterprises with a market for tradable permits.